Shashi Tharoor MP stressed the significance of better journalism where media practitioners follow ethical standards and maintain credibility in their reporting during an interaction with the students of Prajyoti Niketan College, Pudukad, Thrissur. Speaking at a seminar on "Tracing the Evolution of the Indian Mediascape" organised by the Department of English, Tharoor said the Indian media landscape has undergone tremendous changes, ranging from traditional encarved metal plates to cutting-edge print technology.
"The media has changed dramatically since liberalisation in 1991. Economic development, political liberalisation, and the rise of commercial media all helped liberate the broadcast media from government control. With too many channels fighting for the same sense rating points on TRPs, the news media has long abandoned any pretence of performing a public service with breaking news stories, instead emphasising sensation over substance. Today's journalists don't have time to check or to verify. Baseless accusations are being made, and rectifications, if any, are too late to erase the irreversible harm done to innocent people's reputations," he said.
Tharoor also proposed that media outlets accept viewer and reader comments and inputs in order to foster a credible environment. "India's brightest days are still ahead of it. The same can be accomplished by releasing the media from political, economic, and social limitations, empowering it to uncover the unknown and untraced corners of India," he said.
The one-day national seminar featured seminar presentations on a variety of relevant topics by leading media industry executives Surendran and Favour Francis. Fr. Dr. Harshajan Pazhayattil, the founder-manager of Prajyoti Niketan College gave the presidential address. Principal Binu P. Chacko, Head, Department of English Jeetha Johny, programme coordinator Simi Varghese, and student coordinators Gloria T. A, Aleena T. N, and Ajith K. V were part of the organising committee.